MICHAEL O’NEILL WILL step down as manager of Shamrock Rovers in two weeks’ time, it has been announced.
There has been much speculation about his future in recent weeks after rumours emerged that the lastest round of contract talks had broken down.
And with club captain Dan Murray revealing that the 42-year-old had told the players of his departure at training this week, it was only a matter of time before the decision was made public.
“Shamrock Rovers can confirm that manager Michael O’Neill will leave the club when his current contract finishes at the end of December,” read a club statement released on the Rovers website today.
“The club would like to thank Michael for the great success he has brought to the club during his three year tenure at Shamrock Rovers, and we would like to wish him the best for his future career.
“Everyone at the club is focused on Thursday night’s big Europa League game against Tottenham Hotspur at Tallaght Stadium, and the club will not be making any further comment on this matter.”
On the departure, O’Neill told TV3 News this evening: “It’s always sad when you leave a club as a player or as a manager. It’s a sad way for the season to end.
“It would’ve been nice to continue and build on the progress we’ve made in the past three years but it’s not to be so I’ll just have to move on.”
He added that his decision not to sign a new deal was not financially-based and when asked whether it was an amicable situation, he replied: “I wouldn’t say it is amicable but it is a parting of ways.”
The Hoops host Spurs in the Europa League tomorrow night in what will now be O’Neill’s last game in charge of the Airtricity League Premier Division champions.
He joins his assistant at Rovers Jim Magilton and former Crystal Palace boss Ian Dowie on the three-man shortlist due to be interviewed for the Northern Ireland national manager’s job, the IFA confirmed last night.
